Family Planning and HIV-AIDS Prevention VI

completed

The FC module Family Planning including HIV-AIDS Prevention, Phase VI is the final phase of a FC-funded series of projects that has been carried out in Niger since 2003 in the Health Design Space. Despite the improvements achieved in recent years, the topics of reproductive health and family planning remain central to Niger's health policy, with an average birth rate of around 7 births per woman, rapid population growth of 3.8% and a still high incidence of pregnancy-related complications. Despite the relatively low HIV prevalence of 0.4% nationwide, the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains the declared goal of the Niger government in order to avoid the risk of a generalized epidemic. For example, HIV prevalence among so-called high-risk groups (prostitutes, long-distance truck drivers, etc.) is still alarmingly high at up to 60% in the Maradi region. The FC project is being implemented by the local social marketing agency ANIMAS-SUTURA, which has established itself as a dynamic and reliable implementing organization in recent years. In addition to condoms, the pill and water purification tablets, since September 2014 it has also been marketing the subcutaneous three-month injection (Sutura-Press), which is being financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as part of Phase V. The overarching development policy goal of the FC measure is to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of the Nigerien population by preventing unplanned pregnancies and increasing birth intervals, as well as reducing sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV. The HIV component of the program is aimed at the HIV risk groups of long-distance truck drivers and prostitutes. The focus of Phase VI is on increasing the focus of communication measures on young people aged 12 to 18 and on topics related to self-determined family planning. In this context, cooperation with primary and secondary schools in particular is to be expanded. The project has a financial assistance volume of EUR 5 million and was completed in mid-2018, after 24 months.